WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — An Arkansas preschool is closing its doors on special needs children in the middle of the school year, but the decision leaves a lot of parents in West Memphis with mixed feelings.

Ascent Children’s Health Services announced this week that it would close for good Oct. 17, more than a year after a child died in the pre-school’s care, after being left alone in a hot van.

Lisa Bodnar has sent six children through Ascent. Most recently her daughter Maddie got treatment for anxiety and other issues she was born with.

“Ascent was the only one that treated both developmental delays for her, as well as the psychological part,” Bodnar said.

She’s not alone. Hannah Jewell started sending her son Brody to Ascent when he was three. He has autism and attention deficit disorder.